Wales captain Sam Warburton signs WRU central contract

Wales captain Sam Warburton has ended speculation about his future by signing a national contract with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Warburton's salary will be paid by the WRU but he will continue to play for Cardiff Blues and will be released for games outside his Wales duties at no cost to the region.

The 25-year-old is the first player to sign a central contract with the WRU.

"I am delighted to commit my future to Welsh rugby," said Warburton.

"Now that my future is secured within Wales I look forward to focusing on the Six Nations and beyond."

This has been a significant week for Welsh rugby with the two Lions Test captains Alun Wyn Jones and Sam Warburton committing to playing the game in Wales

Roger LewisWRU group chief executive

BBC Wales Sport understands the contract will take Warburton up to the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

The contract also ensures that Warburton, who captained the Lions on their victorious tour of Australia last year, will be released for all Wales international duty as required but does not guarantee him selection to the squad or team.

Wales players have previously been contracted to their regions or teams and the regions had an agreement not to field a centrally-contracted player.

The WRU said the agreement was "a triumph in the best interests of all Welsh rugby".

"We have been able to strike a deal which ensures the Welsh captain will continue to play his rugby at the highest level here in Wales," WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis said.

"I am extremely grateful to the Cardiff Blues chairman, Peter Thomas, for his understanding when the WRU chairman [David Pickering] and I met him on Wednesday to outline this proposed plan.

"Welsh rugby together cannot stand back any longer and watch its best players leave Wales. We all have to act together and act now in the best interests of the game.

"There can be no better message to current and future internationals than the decision of Sam Warburton to become the first senior player to sign a WRU national contract and commit to regional rugby and international rugby in Wales.

Analysis

Scrum V's Phil Steele

"It is history - there's never been anything like it before. There was a hint of it in the early 2000s when Iestyn Harris came from rugby league and there was a suggestion of Union involvement.

"But this is certainly unprecedented in the modern game and it seems to me it was just a case of losing one player too far for the Union.